Crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)amino]pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester or its tautomer. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline compound, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compound, and methods of using the crystalline compound to treat diseases.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/599,023, filed on Feb. 15, 2012; the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, which (once metabolized) has activity as a neprilysin inhibitor. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compound, processes and intermediates for preparing such compound and methods of using the compound to treat diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and renal disease.

2. State of the Art

Commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0213806 to Fleury et al., discloses novel compounds that have activity as neprilysin inhibitors, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the compound, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(3H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester is specifically disclosed in this application. This compound can exist in a tautomer form, for example, as (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester.

The chemical structure of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(3H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester is represented by formula I:

The chemical structure of its tautomer, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, is represented by formula II:

Crystalline forms of both tautomers are covered by the present invention.

When preparing compounds for long term storage and when preparing pharmaceutical compositions and formulations, it is often desirable to have a crystalline form of the therapeutic agent that is neither hygroscopic nor deliquescent. It is also advantageous to have a crystalline form that has a relatively high melting point (i.e., greater than about 100° C.), which allows the material to be processed, for example, micronized, without significant decomposition. Accordingly, a need exists for a stable, non-deliquescent form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, which has an acceptable level of hygroscopicity and a relatively high melting point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, characterized by a powder x-ray diffraction pattern comprising diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 8.62±0.20, 9.50±0.20, 12.14±0.20, 15.18±0.20, 15.72±0.20, 19.90±0.20, 20.40±0.20, 23.42±0.20, and 25.70±0.20.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a processes for preparing crystalline (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester. In one embodiment, the process comprises the steps of: (a) treating (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester with an inert diluent; (b) optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution; and (c) allowing solids to form and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound of the invention. In another embodiment, the process comprises the steps of: (a) deprotecting (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-methyl-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxymethyl)-4-[(1-trityl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester in the presence of an inert diluent; (b) optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution; and (c) allowing solids to form and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound of the invention.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for purifying (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester. In one embodiment, this process comprises forming a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester. The invention also relates to products prepared by the processes described herein.

One aspect of the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester. Such compositions may optionally contain other therapeutic agents. Accordingly, in yet another aspect of the invention, a pharmaceutical composition comprises the crystalline compound as the first therapeutic agent, one or more secondary therapeutic agent, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Another aspect of the invention relates to a combination of active agents, comprising the crystalline compound and a second therapeutic agent. The crystalline compound can be formulated together or separately from the additional agent(s). When formulated separately, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be included with the additional agent(s). Thus, yet another aspect of the invention relates to a combination of pharmaceutical compositions, the combination comprising: a first pharmaceutical composition comprising the crystalline compound and a first pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and a second pharmaceutical composition comprising a second therapeutic agent and a second pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the invention relates to a kit containing such pharmaceutical compositions, for example where the first and second pharmaceutical compositions are separate pharmaceutical compositions.

(2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester is a prodrug of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid, which possesses neprilysin (NEP) enzyme inhibition activity. Therefore, the crystalline form of this prodrug is expected to be useful as a therapeutic agent for treating patients suffering from a disease or disorder that is treated by inhibiting the NEP enzyme or by increasing the levels of its peptide substrates. Thus, one aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating patients suffering from a disease or disorder that is treated by inhibiting the NEP enzyme, comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound of the invention. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of treating hypertension, heart failure, or renal disease, comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound of the invention. Still another aspect of the invention relates to a method for inhibiting a NEP enzyme in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal, a NEP enzyme-inhibiting amount of the crystalline compound of the invention.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the crystalline compound of the invention for the manufacture of a medicament, especially for the manufacture of a medicament useful for treating hypertension, heart failure, or renal disease. Another aspect of the invention relates to use of the crystalline compound of the invention for inhibiting a NEP enzyme in a mammal Still another aspect of the invention relates to the use of the crystalline compound of the invention as a research tool. Other aspects and embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the present invention are illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern of the crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester.

FIG. 2 shows a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) isotherm and

FIG. 3 shows a thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) trace.

FIG. 4 shows a dynamic moisture sorption (DMS) profile and

FIG. 5 shows the overlay of the PXRD patterns of the sample before and after being subjected to the moisture sorption-desorption experiment.

FIG. 6 is a polarized light microscopic (PLM) image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester. It is understood that any reference to (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester is also intended to include its tautomer, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(3H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, unless indicated otherwise. In its crystalline form, one tautomer may be predominant.

This compound contains two chiral centers and has the (2S,4R) configuration. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that minor amounts of the (2R,4S) stereoisomer, for example, may be present in the compositions of the invention unless otherwise indicated, provided that the utility of the composition as a whole is not eliminated by the presence of such stereoisomer.

The compound of formula I is a prodrug of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)amino]pentanoic acid, which has activity as a neprilysin inhibitor. Crystalline forms of the compound of formula I are expected to have the same activity in vivo and thus the same utility in treating diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, and renal disease. Therefore, among other uses, the crystalline forms of the invention are useful for preparing pharmaceutical compositions for treating such diseases.

DEFINITIONS

When describing the compounds, compositions, methods and processes of the invention, the following terms have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated. Additionally, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the corresponding plural forms unless the context of use clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “comprising”, “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. All numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth used herein are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about,” unless otherwise indicated. Accordingly, the numbers set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each number should at least be construed in light of the reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

As used herein, the phrase “having the formula” or “having the structure” is not intended to be limiting and is used in the same way that the term “comprising” is commonly used. For example, if one structure is depicted, it is understood that all stereoisomer and tautomer forms are encompassed, unless stated otherwise.

The term “melting point” or “melting endotherm” as used herein means the temperature at which the maximum endothermic heat flow is observed by differential scanning calorimetry, for the thermal transition that corresponds to the solid-to-liquid phase change.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” refers to a material that is not biologically or otherwise unacceptable when used in the invention. For example, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to a material that can be incorporated into a composition and administered to a patient without causing unacceptable biological effects or interacting in an unacceptable manner with other components of the composition. Such pharmaceutically acceptable materials typically have met the required standards of toxicological and manufacturing testing, and include those materials identified as suitable inactive ingredients by the U.S. Food and Drug administration.

As used herein, the term “prodrug” is intended to mean an inactive (or significantly less active) precursor of a drug that is converted into its active form in the body under physiological conditions, for example, by normal metabolic processes. Such compounds may not necessarily possess pharmacological activity at NEP, but may be administered orally or parenterally and thereafter metabolized in the body to form a compound that is pharmacologically active at NEP.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” means an amount sufficient to effect treatment when administered to a patient in need thereof, that is, the amount of drug needed to obtain the desired therapeutic effect. For example, a therapeutically effective amount for treating hypertension is an amount of compound needed to, for example, reduce, suppress, eliminate, or prevent the symptoms of hypertension, or to treat the underlying cause of hypertension. In one embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount is that amount of drug needed to reduce blood pressure or the amount of drug needed to maintain normal blood pressure. On the other hand, the term “effective amount” means an amount sufficient to obtain a desired result, which may not necessarily be a therapeutic result. For example, when studying a system comprising a NEP enzyme, an “effective amount” may be the amount needed to inhibit the enzyme.

The term “treating” or “treatment” as used herein means the treating or treatment of a disease or medical condition (such as hypertension) in a patient, such as a mammal (particularly a human) that includes one or more of the following: (a) preventing the disease or medical condition from occurring, i.e., preventing the reoccurrence of the disease or medical condition or prophylactic treatment of a patient that is pre-disposed to the disease or medical condition; (b) ameliorating the disease or medical condition, i.e., eliminating or causing regression of the disease or medical condition in a patient; (c) suppressing the disease or medical condition, i.e., slowing or arresting the development of the disease or medical condition in a patient; or (d) alleviating the symptoms of the disease or medical condition in a patient. For example, the term “treating hypertension” would include preventing hypertension from occurring, ameliorating hypertension, suppressing hypertension, and alleviating the symptoms of hypertension (for example, lowering blood pressure). The term “patient” is intended to include those mammals, such as humans, that are in need of treatment or disease prevention or that are presently being treated for disease prevention or treatment of a specific disease or medical condition, as well as test subjects in which the crystalline compound is being evaluated or being used in an assay, for example an animal model.

All other terms used herein are intended to have their ordinary meaning as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which they pertain.

General Synthetic Procedures

The crystalline compound of the invention is a neutral, non-solvated solid form and can be synthesized from readily available starting materials as described below and in the Examples. It will be appreciated that where typical or preferred process conditions (i.e., reaction temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents, pressures, etc.) are given, other process conditions can also be used unless otherwise stated. It will be appreciated that while specific process conditions (i.e., crystallization temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents, pressures, etc.) are given, other process conditions can also be used unless otherwise stated. In some instances, reactions or crystallizations were conducted at room temperature and no actual temperature measurement was taken. It is understood that room temperature can be taken to mean a temperature within the range commonly associated with the ambient temperature in a laboratory environment, and will typically be in the range of about 15° C. to about 30° C. In other instances, reactions or crystallizations were conducted at room temperature and the temperature was actually measured and recorded.

Generally, the crystallization is conducted in a suitable inert diluent, examples of which include, but are not limited to, acetone, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, isobutanol, dichloromethane, methyl t-butyl ether, cyclopentyl methyl ether, hexanes, and the like, and mixtures thereof, optionally containing water. Mixtures of inert diluents (also referred to as solvent systems) include acetone with water, acetonitrile with water, ethanol and ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate and hexanes, and lower alcohols (C₁₋₆alkyl-OH) with water, for example, methanol and water and isopropanol and water. Particularly suitable solvent systems include ethyl acetate/hexanes and lower alcohol/water. Upon completion of the crystallization, the crystalline compound can be isolated from the reaction mixture by any conventional means such as precipitation, concentration, centrifugation, and the like.

The (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester and (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-methyl-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxymethyl)-4-[(1-trityl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester starting materials can be prepared by techniques that are well known in the art, and specific examples are provided herein. It is understood that any reference to the non-crystalline starting material, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester is also intended to include its tautomer, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(3H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, unless indicated otherwise.

The molar ratios described in the methods of the invention can be readily determined by various methods available to those skilled in the art. For example, such molar ratios can be readily determined by ¹H NMR. Alternatively, elemental analysis and HPLC methods can be used to determine the molar ratio.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound of the invention can be prepared by treating (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester with an inert diluent, following by optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution, allowing solids to form, and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound:

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound of the invention can be prepared by deprotecting (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-methyl-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxymethyl)-4-[(1-trityl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester in the presence of an inert diluent, following by optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution, allowing solids to form, and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound:

Deprotection is typically done with hydrochloric acid (e.g., 1.25-3 M HCl).

Generally, the dissolution and/or deprotection steps are conducted at a room temperature. The mixture may optionally be stirred or sonicated to facilitate or complete dissolution. In one embodiment, the inert diluent is ethyl acetate and hexanes. In one embodiment, the inert diluent is a lower alcohol such as methanol and water. In yet another embodiment, seed crystals are added to facilitate crystallization.

Solids are then allowed to form and after a suitable amount of time, crystals will be observed. In one embodiment, crystals are observed over a period of about 1-4 days. After crystals are observed, the volume of the mother liquor can be reduced and the crystals isolated and dried. In one embodiment, the crystals are air dried under ambient conditions. In one embodiment, the crystals are isolated to yield a crystalline compound having purity typically about 99%.

Crystalline Properties

Among other advantages, it has been discovered that forming a crystalline form of (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, is useful for purifying the compound itself. For example, the crystalline compound of the invention has a purity of at least 99%.

As is well known in the field of powder x-ray diffraction, relative peak heights of PXRD patterns are dependent on a number of factors relating to sample preparation and instrument geometry, while peak positions are relatively insensitive to experimental details. PXRD patterns and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) isotherms were obtained, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic moisture sorption (DMS) assessment (also known as a moisture sorption-desorption profile) were performed as described in Example 4. Thus, in one embodiment, the crystalline compounds are characterized by a PXRD pattern having certain peak positions. In another embodiment, the crystalline compounds are characterized by a DSC thermogram. In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compounds are characterized by a TGA trace.

The crystalline compound of the invention is characterized by a PXRD pattern in which the peak positions are substantially in accordance with those shown in FIG. 1. Sharp diffraction peaks were observed in the region 5-40° in 20. Given that most peaks have low relative intensity, all peaks below 28° in 2θ are listed below.

2θ d (Å) Height¹ H %² * 8.20 10.77 104 5.7 8.62 10.25 185 10.1 * 9.50 9.30 278 15.2 * 11.14 7.94 132 7.2 11.80 7.49 151 8.3 12.14 7.29 292 16.0 * 14.02 6.31 207 11.3 15.18 5.83 1828 100.0 * 15.72 5.63 350 19.1 * 17.44 5.08 131 7.2 18.42 4.81 36 2.0 19.20 4.62 171 9.3 19.90 4.46 356 19.5 * 20.40 4.35 299 16.4 * 21.04 4.22 67 3.7 21.78 4.08 152 8.3 22.24 3.99 90 4.9 23.42 3.80 1588 86.8 * 23.90 3.72 262 14.4 24.50 3.63 229 12.5 25.70 3.46 689 37.7 * 25.98 3.43 563 30.8 26.98 3.30 141 7.7 ¹Peak height from base line ²Percent peak height compared to highest peak * Indicates peaks that are important to identify this form Thus, in one embodiment, the crystalline compound of the invention is characterized by a powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern comprising diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 8.62±0.20, 9.50±0.20, 12.14±0.20, 15.18±0.20, 15.72±0.20, 19.90±0.20, 20.40±0.20, 23.42±0.20, and 25.70±0.20; and further characterized by having one or more additional diffraction peaks at 2θ values selected from 8.20±0.20, 11.14±0.20, 11.80±0.20, 14.02±0.20, 17.44±0.20, 18.42±0.20, 19.20±0.20, 21.04±0.20, 21.78±0.20, 22.24±0.20, 23.90±0.20, 24.50±0.20, 25.98±0.20, and 26.98±0.20.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is characterized by the DSC thermogram in FIG. 2. The DSC thermogram demonstrates that the crystalline compound exhibits a melting endotherm onset at about 151.2° C. and endotherm peak at about 155.3° C. (melting point), with a melting enthalpy of 96 J/g. No other thermal events prior to the melting transition were observed. The crystals were not found to contain any solvent and did not undergo any temperature-induced phase transitions prior to melting.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is characterized by the TGA profile in FIG. 3. The TGA trace shows no weight loss until about 200° C. The crystalline compound does not decompose until well after the melting transition (which occurs at 155.3° C.).

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is characterized by the DMS profile in FIG. 4. This DMS profile demonstrates that the crystalline form is non-hygroscopic. During the adsorption segment from 5% RH to 90% RH, the crystals picked up less than 0.1% by weight of moisture and the desorption profile (from 90% RH to 5% RH) matched with the adsorption profile. There was no hysteresis in the two segments indicating that the small amount of moisture taken up by the solid corresponds to the surface adsorption. Subjecting the sample to a second cycle of adsorption and desorption of moisture resulted in an isotherm that was indistinguishable from the isotherm obtained in the first cycle. There was no change in the form after the DMS experiment, and PXRD analysis of the post-DMS sampled showed that the solid remained as the known form. Overlay of the PXRD patterns of the sample before and after it was subjected the moisture sorption-desorption experiment is shown in FIG. 5.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound of the invention is characterized by the polarized light microscopic (PLM) image in FIG. 6, which shows the crystalline compound as being birefringent with rectangular thin-plates.

These properties of the crystalline compound of the invention are further illustrated in the Examples below.

Utility

(2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid has activity as a neprilysin inhibitor. Thus, this compound, as well its prodrug, (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, and crystalline forms thereof, are expected to have therapeutic utility as neprilysin inhibitors. Thus, when discussing the activity of the crystalline compound of the invention, it is understood that this crystalline prodrug has the expected activity once metabolized.

Exemplary assays to determine properties of the crystalline compound, such as the NEP inhibiting activity, include by way of illustration and not limitation, assays that measure NEP inhibition. Useful secondary assays include assays to measure ACE inhibition and aminopeptidase P (APP) inhibition (e.g., as described in Sulpizio et al. (2005) JPET 315:1306-1313). A pharmacodynamic assay to assess the in vivo inhibitory potencies for ACE and NEP in anesthetized rats is described in Seymour et al. (1985) Hypertension 7 (Suppl I):I-35-I-42 and Wigle et al. (1992) Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 70:1525-1528), where ACE inhibition is measured as the percent inhibition of the angiotensin I pressor response and NEP inhibition is measured as increased urinary cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) output.

There are many in vivo assays that can be used to ascertain further utilities of the crystalline compound. The conscious spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model is a renin dependent hypertension model. See for example, Intengan et al. (1999) Circulation 100(22):2267-2275 and Badyal et al. (2003) Indian Journal of Pharmacology 35:349-362. The conscious desoxycorticosterone acetate-salt (DOCA-salt) rat model is a volume dependent hypertension model that is useful for measuring NEP activity. See for example, Trapani et al. (1989) J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 14:419-424, Intengan et al. (1999) Hypertension 34(4):907-913, and Badyal et al. (2003) supra). The DOCA-salt model is particularly useful for evaluating the ability of a test compound to reduce blood pressure as well as to measure a test compound's ability to prevent or delay a rise in blood pressure. The Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) hypertensive rat model is a model of hypertension that is sensitive to dietary salt (NaCl), and is described, for example, in Rapp (1982) Hypertension 4:753-763. The rat monocrotaline model of pulmonary arterial hypertension described, for example, in Kato et al. (2008) J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 51(1):18-23, is a reliable predictor of clinical efficacy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Heart failure animal models include the DSS rat model for heart failure and the aorto-caval fistula model (AV shunt), the latter of which is described, for example, in Norling et al. (1996) J. Amer. Soc. Nephrol. 7:1038-1044. Other animal models, such as the hot plate, tail-flick and formalin tests, can be used to measure the analgesic properties of the crystalline compound, as well as the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model of neuropathic pain. See, for example, Malmberg et al. (1999) Current Protocols in Neuroscience 8.9.1-8.9.15. Other properties and utilities of the crystalline compound can be demonstrated using various in vitro and in vivo assays well known to those skilled in the art.

The crystalline compound is expected to be useful for the treatment and/or prevention of medical conditions responsive to NEP inhibition. Thus it is expected that patients suffering from a disease or disorder that is treated by inhibiting the NEP enzyme or by increasing the levels of its peptide substrates, can be treated by administering a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound. For example, by inhibiting NEP, the crystalline compound is expected to potentiate the biological effects of endogenous peptides that are metabolized by NEP, such as the natriuretic peptides, bombesin, bradykinins, calcitonin, endothelins, enkephalins, neurotensin, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Thus, the crystalline compound is expected to have other physiological actions, for example, on the renal, central nervous, reproductive and gastrointestinal systems.

Cardiovascular Diseases

By potentiating the effects of vasoactive peptides like the natriuretic peptides and bradykinin, the crystalline compound is expected to find utility in treating and/or preventing medical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases. See, for example, Rogues et al. (1993) Pharmacol. Rev. 45:87-146 and Dempsey et al. (2009) Amer. J. of Pathology 174(3):782-796. Cardiovascular diseases of particular interest include hypertension and heart failure. Hypertension includes, by way of illustration and not limitation: primary hypertension, which is also referred to as essential hypertension or idiopathic hypertension; secondary hypertension; hypertension with accompanying renal disease; severe hypertension with or without accompanying renal disease; pulmonary hypertension, including pulmonary arterial hypertension; and resistant hypertension. Heart failure includes, by way of illustration and not limitation: congestive heart failure; acute heart failure; chronic heart failure, for example with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (also referred to as systolic heart failure) or with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (also referred to as diastolic heart failure); and acute and chronic decompensated heart failure, with or without accompanying renal disease. Thus, one embodiment of the invention relates to a method for treating hypertension, particularly primary hypertension or pulmonary arterial hypertension, comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound.

For treatment of primary hypertension, the therapeutically effective amount is typically the amount that is sufficient to lower the patient's blood pressure. This would include both mild-to-moderate hypertension and severe hypertension. When used to treat hypertension, the crystalline compound may be administered in combination with other therapeutic agents such as aldosterone antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and dual-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme/neprilysin inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activators and stimulators, angiotensin-II vaccines, anti-diabetic agents, anti-lipid agents, anti-thrombotic agents, AT₁ receptor antagonists and dual-acting AT₁ receptor antagonist/neprilysin inhibitors, β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists, dual-acting β-adrenergic receptor antagonist/α₁-receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, endothelin receptor antagonists, endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors, neprilysin inhibitors, natriuretic peptides and their analogs, natriuretic peptide clearance receptor antagonists, nitric oxide donors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, phosphodiesterase inhibitors (specifically PDE-V inhibitors), prostaglandin receptor agonists, renin inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators and activators, and combinations thereof. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the crystalline compound is combined with an AT₁ receptor antagonist, a diuretic, a calcium channel blocker, or a combination thereof, and used to treat primary hypertension. In another particular embodiment of the invention, the crystalline compound is combined with an AT₁ receptor antagonist, and used to treat hypertension with accompanying renal disease.

For treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, the therapeutically effective amount is typically the amount that is sufficient to lower the pulmonary vascular resistance. Other goals of therapy are to improve a patient's exercise capacity. For example, in a clinical setting, the therapeutically effective amount can be the amount that improves a patient's ability to walk comfortably for a period of 6 minutes (covering a distance of approximately 20-40 meters). When used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension the crystalline compound may be administered in combination with other therapeutic agents such as α-adrenergic antagonists, β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists, β₂-adrenergic receptor agonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, anticoagulants, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, endothelin receptor antagonists, PDE-V inhibitors, prostaglandin analogs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and combinations thereof. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the crystalline compound is combined with a PDE-V inhibitor or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method for treating heart failure, in particular congestive heart failure (including both systolic and diastolic congestive heart failure), comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound. Typically, the therapeutically effective amount is the amount that is sufficient to lower blood pressure and/or improve renal functions. In a clinical setting, the therapeutically effective amount can be the amount that is sufficient to improve cardiac hemodynamics, like for instance reduction in wedge pressure, right atrial pressure, filling pressure, and vascular resistance. In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered as an intravenous dosage form. When used to treat heart failure, the crystalline compound may be administered in combination with other therapeutic agents such as adenosine receptor antagonists, advanced glycation end product breakers, aldosterone antagonists, AT₁ receptor antagonists, β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists, dual-acting β-adrenergic receptor antagonist/α₁-receptor antagonists, chymase inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, natriuretic peptides and their analogs, natriuretic peptide clearance receptor antagonists, nitric oxide donors, prostaglandin analogs, PDE-V inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase activators and stimulators, and vasopressin receptor antagonists. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the crystalline compound is combined with an aldosterone antagonist, a β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonist, an AT₁ receptor antagonist, or a diuretic, and used to treat congestive heart failure.

Diarrhea

As a NEP inhibitor, the crystalline compound is expected to inhibit the degradation of endogenous enkephalins and thus may also find utility for the treatment of diarrhea, including infectious and secretory/watery diarrhea. See, for example, Baumer et al. (1992) Gut 33:753-758; Farthing (2006) Digestive Diseases 24:47-58; and Marçais-Collado (1987) Eur. J. Pharmacol. 144(2):125-132. When used to treat diarrhea, the crystalline compound may be combined with one or more additional antidiarrheal treatments.

Renal Diseases

By potentiating the effects of vasoactive peptides like the natriuretic peptides and bradykinin, the crystalline compound is expected to enhance renal function (see Chen et al. (1999) Circulation 100:2443-2448; Lipkin et al. (1997) Kidney Int. 52:792-801; and Dussaule et al. (1993) Clin. Sci. 84:31-39) and find utility in treating and/or preventing renal diseases. Renal diseases of particular interest include diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, proteinuria, and particularly acute kidney injury or acute renal failure (see Sharkovska et al. (2011) Clin. Lab. 57:507-515 and Newaz et al. (2010) Renal Failure 32:384-390). When used to treat renal disease, the crystalline compound may be administered in combination with other therapeutic agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, AT₁ receptor antagonists, and diuretics.

Preventative Therapy

By potentiating the effects of the natriuretic peptides, the crystalline compound is also expected to be useful in preventative therapy, due to the antihypertrophic and antifibrotic effects of the natriuretic peptides (see Potter et al. (2009) Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 191:341-366), for example in preventing the progression of cardiac insufficiency after myocardial infarction, preventing arterial restenosis after angioplasty, preventing thickening of blood vessel walls after vascular operations, preventing atherosclerosis, and preventing diabetic angiopathy.

Glaucoma

By potentiating the effects of the natriuretic peptides, the crystalline compound is expected to be useful to treat glaucoma. See, for example, Diestelhorst et al. (1989) International Ophthalmology 12:99-101. When used to treat glaucoma, the crystalline compound may be combined with one or more additional anti-glaucoma agents.

Pain Relief

As a NEP inhibitor, the crystalline compound is expected to inhibit the degradation of endogenous enkephalins and thus such compounds may also find utility as analgesics. See, for example, Rogues et al. (1980) Nature 288:286-288 and Thanawala et al. (2008) Current Drug Targets 9:887-894. When used to treat pain, the crystalline compound may be combined with one or more additional antinociceptive drugs such as aminopeptidase N or dipeptidyl peptidase III inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, monoamine reuptake inhibitors, muscle relaxants, NMDA receptor antagonists, opioid receptor agonists, 5-HT_(1D) serotonin receptor agonists, and tricyclic antidepressants.

Other Utilities

Due to its NEP inhibition properties, the crystalline compound is also expected to be useful as an antitussive agent, as well as find utility in the treatment of portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis (see Sansoe et al. (2005) J. Hepatol. 43:791-798), cancer (see Vesely (2005) J. Investigative Med. 53:360-365), depression (see Noble et al. (2007) Exp. Opin. Ther. Targets 11:145-159), menstrual disorders, preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, endometriosis, reproductive disorders (for example, male and female infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, implantation failure), and male and female sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction and female sexual arousal disorder. More specifically, the crystalline compound is expected to be useful in treating female sexual dysfunction (see Pryde et al. (2006) J. Med. Chem. 49:4409-4424), which is often defined as a female patient's difficulty or inability to find satisfaction in sexual expression. This covers a variety of diverse female sexual disorders including, by way of illustration and not limitation, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, sexual arousal disorder, orgasmic disorder and sexual pain disorder. When used to treat such disorders, especially female sexual dysfunction, the crystalline compound may be combined with one or more of the following secondary agents: PDE-V inhibitors, dopamine agonists, estrogen receptor agonists and/or antagonists, androgens, and estrogens. Due to its NEP inhibition properties, the crystalline compound is also expected to have anti-inflammatory properties, and is expected to have utility as such, particularly when used in combination with statins.

Recent studies suggest that NEP plays a role in regulating nerve function in insulin-deficient diabetes and diet induced obesity (Coppey et al. (2011) Neuropharmacology 60:259-266). Therefore, due to its NEP inhibition property, the crystalline compound is also expected to be useful in providing protection from nerve impairment caused by diabetes or diet induced obesity.

The amount of the crystalline compound administered per dose or the total amount administered per day may be predetermined or it may be determined on an individual patient basis by taking into consideration numerous factors, including the nature and severity of the patient's condition, the condition being treated, the age, weight, and general health of the patient, the tolerance of the patient to the active agent, the route of administration, pharmacological considerations such as the activity, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and toxicology profiles of the compound and any secondary agents being administered, and the like. Treatment of a patient suffering from a disease or medical condition (such as hypertension) can begin with a predetermined dosage or a dosage determined by the treating physician, and will continue for a period of time necessary to prevent, ameliorate, suppress, or alleviate the symptoms of the disease or medical condition. Patients undergoing such treatment will typically be monitored on a routine basis to determine the effectiveness of therapy. For example, in treating hypertension, blood pressure measurements may be used to determine the effectiveness of treatment. Similar indicators for other diseases and conditions described herein, are well known and are readily available to the treating physician. Continuous monitoring by the physician will insure that the optimal amount of the crystalline compound will be administered at any given time, as well as facilitating the determination of the duration of treatment. This is of particular value when secondary agents are also being administered, as their selection, dosage, and duration of therapy may also require adjustment. In this way, the treatment regimen and dosing schedule can be adjusted over the course of therapy so that the lowest amount of active agent that exhibits the desired effectiveness is administered and, further, that administration is continued only so long as is necessary to successfully treat the disease or medical condition.

Research Tools

Since the crystalline compound possesses NEP enzyme inhibition activity, it is also useful as a research tool for investigating or studying biological systems or samples having a NEP enzyme, for example to study diseases where the NEP enzyme or its peptide substrates plays a role. Any suitable biological system or sample having a NEP enzyme may be employed in such studies which may be conducted either in vitro or in vivo. Representative biological systems or samples suitable for such studies include, but are not limited to, cells, cellular extracts, plasma membranes, tissue samples, isolated organs, mammals (such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, pigs, humans, and so forth), and the like, with mammals being of particular interest. In one particular embodiment of the invention, NEP enzyme activity in a mammal is inhibited by administering a NEP-inhibiting amount of the crystalline compound. The crystalline compound can also be used as a research tool by conducting biological assays using such compound.

When used as a research tool, a biological system or sample comprising a NEP enzyme is typically contacted with a NEP enzyme-inhibiting amount of the crystalline compound. After the biological system or sample is exposed to the compound, the effects of inhibiting the NEP enzyme are determined using conventional procedures and equipment, such as by measuring receptor binding in a binding assay or measuring ligand-mediated changes in a functional assay. Exposure encompasses contacting cells or tissue with the compound, administering the crystalline compound to a mammal, for example by i.p., p.o, i.v., s.c., or inhaled administration, and so forth. This determining step can involve measuring a response (a quantitative analysis) or can involve making an observation (a qualitative analysis). Measuring a response involves, for example, determining the effects of the crystalline compound on the biological system or sample using conventional procedures and equipment, such as enzyme activity assays and measuring enzyme substrate or product mediated changes in functional assays. The assay results can be used to determine the activity level as well as the amount of crystalline compound necessary to achieve the desired result, that is, a NEP enzyme-inhibiting amount. Typically, the determining step will involve determining the effects of inhibiting the NEP enzyme.

Additionally, the crystalline compound can be used as a research tool for evaluating other chemical compounds, and thus is also useful in screening assays to discover, for example, new compounds having NEP-inhibiting activity. In this manner, the crystalline compound is used as a standard in an assay to allow comparison of the results obtained with a test compound and with the crystalline compound to identify those test compounds that have about equal or superior activity, if any. For example, pK_(i) data for a test compound or a group of test compounds is compared to the pK_(i) data for the crystalline compound to identify those test compounds that have the desired properties, for example, test compounds having a pK_(i) value about equal or superior to the crystalline compound, if any. This aspect of the invention includes, as separate embodiments, both the generation of comparison data (using the appropriate assays) and the analysis of test data to identify test compounds of interest. Thus, a test compound can be evaluated in a biological assay, by a method comprising the steps of: (a) conducting a biological assay with a test compound to provide a first assay value; (b) conducting the biological assay with the crystalline compound to provide a second assay value; wherein step (a) is conducted either before, after or concurrently with step (b); and (c) comparing the first assay value from step (a) with the second assay value from step (b). Exemplary biological assays include a NEP enzyme inhibition assay.

Pharmaceutical Compositions and Formulations

The crystalline compound of the invention is typically administered to a patient in the form of a pharmaceutical composition or formulation. Such pharmaceutical compositions may be administered to the patient by any acceptable route of administration including, but not limited to, oral, rectal, vaginal, nasal, inhaled, topical (including transdermal), ocular, and parenteral modes of administration. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that, once a crystalline compound has been formulated, it may no longer be in crystalline form, i.e., it may be dissolved in a suitable carrier. Further, the crystalline compound may be administered, for example orally, in multiple doses per day (for example, two, three, or four times daily), in a single daily dose or a single weekly dose.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the crystalline compound. The compositions may contain other therapeutic and/or formulating agents if desired. When discussing compositions, the “crystalline compound of the invention” may also be referred to herein as the “active agent,” to distinguish it from other components of the formulation, such as the carrier.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention typically contain a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that a pharmaceutical composition may contain more than a therapeutically effective amount, such as in bulk compositions, or less than a therapeutically effective amount, that is, individual unit doses designed for multiple administration to achieve a therapeutically effective amount. Typically, the composition will contain from about 0.01-95 wt % of active agent, including, from about 0.01-30 wt %, such as from about 0.01-10 wt %, with the actual amount depending upon the formulation itself, the route of administration, the frequency of dosing, and so forth. In one embodiment, a composition suitable for an oral dosage form, for example, may contain about 5-70 wt %, or from about 10-60 wt % of active agent.

Any conventional carrier or excipient may be used in the pharmaceutical composition. The choice of a particular carrier or excipient, or combinations of carriers or excipients, will depend on the mode of administration being used to treat a particular patient or type of medical condition or disease state. In this regard, the preparation of a suitable composition for a particular mode of administration is well within the scope of those skilled in the pharmaceutical arts. Additionally, carriers or excipients used in such compositions are commercially available. By way of further illustration, conventional formulation techniques are described in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 20^(th) Edition, Lippincott Williams & White, Baltimore, Md. (2000); and H. C. Ansel et al., Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems, 7^(th) Edition, Lippincott Williams & White, Baltimore, Md. (1999).

Representative examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, the following: sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose, such as microcrystalline cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols, such as propylene glycol; polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer's solution; ethyl alcohol; phosphate buffer solutions; compressed propellant gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons; and other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical compositions.

Pharmaceutical compositions are typically prepared by thoroughly and intimately mixing or blending the active agent with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and one or more optional ingredients. The resulting uniformly blended mixture may then be shaped or loaded into tablets, capsules, pills, canisters, cartridges, dispensers and the like using conventional procedures and equipment.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical compositions are suitable for oral administration. Suitable compositions for oral administration may be in the form of capsules, tablets, pills, lozenges, cachets, dragees, powders, granules; solutions or suspensions in an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid; oil-in-water or water-in-oil liquid emulsions; elixirs or syrups; and the like; each containing a predetermined amount of the active agent.

When intended for oral administration in a solid dosage form (capsules, tablets, pills and the like), the composition will typically comprise the active agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as sodium citrate or dicalcium phosphate. Solid dosage forms may also comprise: fillers or extenders, such as starches, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, sucrose, glucose, mannitol, and/or silicic acid; binders, such as carboxymethylcellulose, alginates, gelatin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, sucrose and/or acacia; humectants, such as glycerol; disintegrating agents, such as agar-agar, calcium carbonate, potato or tapioca starch, alginic acid, certain silicates, and/or sodium carbonate; solution retarding agents, such as paraffin; absorption accelerators, such as quaternary ammonium compounds; wetting agents, such as cetyl alcohol and/or glycerol monostearate; absorbents, such as kaolin and/or bentonite clay; lubricants, such as talc, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, solid polyethylene glycols, sodium lauryl sulfate, and/or mixtures thereof; coloring agents; and buffering agents.

Release agents, wetting agents, coating agents, sweetening, flavoring and perfuming agents, preservatives and antioxidants may also be present in the pharmaceutical compositions. Exemplary coating agents for tablets, capsules, pills and like, include those used for enteric coatings, such as cellulose acetate phthalate, polyvinyl acetate phthalate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, methacrylic acid-methacrylic acid ester copolymers, cellulose acetate trimellitate, carboxymethyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose acetate succinate, and the like. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidants include: water-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, cysteine hydrochloride, sodium bisulfate, sodium metabisulfate sodium sulfite and the like; oil-soluble antioxidants, such as ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, lecithin, propyl gallate, alpha-tocopherol, and the like; and metal-chelating agents, such as citric acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, sorbitol, tartaric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like.

Compositions may also be formulated to provide slow or controlled release of the active agent using, by way of example, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose in varying proportions or other polymer matrices, liposomes and/or microspheres. In addition, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may contain opacifying agents and may be formulated so that they release the active agent only, or preferentially, in a certain portion of the gastrointestinal tract, optionally, in a delayed manner. Examples of embedding compositions which can be used include polymeric substances and waxes. The active agent can also be in micro-encapsulated form, optionally with one or more of the above-described excipients.

Suitable liquid dosage forms for oral administration include, by way of illustration, pharmaceutically acceptable emulsions, microemulsions, solutions, suspensions, syrups and elixirs. Liquid dosage forms typically comprise the active agent and an inert diluent, such as, for example, water or other solvents, solubilizing agents and emulsifiers, such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, ethyl carbonate, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, oils (for example, cottonseed, groundnut, corn, germ, olive, castor and sesame oils), glycerol, tetrahydrofuryl alcohol, polyethylene glycols and fatty acid esters of sorbitan, and mixtures thereof. Suspensions may contain suspending agents such as, for example, ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols, polyoxyethylene sorbitol and sorbitan esters, microcrystalline cellulose, aluminium metahydroxide, bentonite, agar-agar and tragacanth, and mixtures thereof.

When intended for oral administration, the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be packaged in a unit dosage form. The term “unit dosage form” refers to a physically discrete unit suitable for dosing a patient, that is, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of the active agent calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect either alone or in combination with one or more additional units. For example, such unit dosage forms may be capsules, tablets, pills, and the like.

In another embodiment, the compositions of the invention are suitable for inhaled administration, and will typically be in the form of an aerosol or a powder. Such compositions are generally administered using well-known delivery devices, such as a nebulizer, dry powder, or metered-dose inhaler. Nebulizer devices produce a stream of high velocity air that causes the composition to spray as a mist that is carried into a patient's respiratory tract. An exemplary nebulizer formulation comprises the active agent dissolved in a carrier to form a solution, or micronized and combined with a carrier to form a suspension of micronized particles of respirable size. Dry powder inhalers administer the active agent as a free-flowing powder that is dispersed in a patient's air-stream during inspiration. An exemplary dry powder formulation comprises the active agent dry-blended with an excipient such as lactose, starch, mannitol, dextrose, polylactic acid, polylactide-co-glycolide, and combinations thereof. Metered-dose inhalers discharge a measured amount of the active agent using compressed propellant gas. An exemplary metered-dose formulation comprises a solution or suspension of the active agent in a liquefied propellant, such as a chlorofluorocarbon or hydrofluoroalkane. Optional components of such formulations include co-solvents, such as ethanol or pentane, and surfactants, such as sorbitan trioleate, oleic acid, lecithin, glycerin, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Such compositions are typically prepared by adding chilled or pressurized hydrofluoroalkane to a suitable container containing the active agent, ethanol (if present) and the surfactant (if present). To prepare a suspension, the active agent is micronized and then combined with the propellant. Alternatively, a suspension formulation can be prepared by spray drying a coating of surfactant on micronized particles of the active agent. The formulation is then loaded into an aerosol canister, which forms a portion of the inhaler.

The crystalline compound can also be administered parenterally (for example, by subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, or intraperitoneal injection). For such administration, the active agent is provided in a sterile solution, suspension, or emulsion. Exemplary solvents for preparing such formulations include water, saline, low molecular weight alcohols such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, oils, gelatin, fatty acid esters such as ethyl oleate, and the like. Parenteral formulations may also contain one or more anti-oxidants, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifiers, and dispersing agents. Surfactants, additional stabilizing agents or pH-adjusting agents (acids, bases or buffers) and anti-oxidants are particularly useful to provide stability to the formulation, for example, to minimize or avoid hydrolysis of ester and amide linkages, or dimerization of thiols that may be present in the compound. These formulations may be rendered sterile by use of a sterile injectable medium, a sterilizing agent, filtration, irradiation, or heat. In one particular embodiment, the parenteral formulation comprises an aqueous cyclodextrin solution as the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Suitable cyclodextrins include cyclic molecules containing six or more α-D-glucopyranose units linked at the 1,4 positions by a linkages as in amylase, β-cyclodextrin or cycloheptaamylose. Exemplary cyclodextrins include cyclodextrin derivatives such as hydroxypropyl and sulfobutyl ether cyclodextrins such as hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and sulfobutyl ether β-cyclodextrin. Exemplary buffers for such formulations include carboxylic acid-based buffers such as citrate, lactate and maleate buffer solutions.

The crystalline compound can also be administered transdermally using known transdermal delivery systems and excipients. For example, the compound can be admixed with permeation enhancers, such as propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol monolaurate, azacycloalkan-2-ones and the like, and incorporated into a patch or similar delivery system. Additional excipients including gelling agents, emulsifiers and buffers, may be used in such transdermal compositions if desired.

Secondary Agents

The crystalline compound of the invention may be useful as the sole treatment of a disease or may be combined with one or more other therapeutic agents in order to obtain the desired therapeutic effect. Thus, in one embodiment, pharmaceutical compositions of the invention contain other drugs that are co-administered with the crystalline compound. For example, the composition may further comprise one or more drugs (also referred to as “secondary agents(s)”). Such therapeutic agents are well known in the art, and include adenosine receptor antagonists, α-adrenergic receptor antagonists, β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists, β₂-adrenergic receptor agonists, dual-acting β-adrenergic receptor antagonist/α₁-receptor antagonists, advanced glycation end product breakers, aldosterone antagonists, aldosterone synthase inhibitors, aminopeptidase N inhibitors, androgens, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and dual-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme/neprilysin inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activators and stimulators, angiotensin-II vaccines, anticoagulants, anti-diabetic agents, antidiarrheal agents, anti-glaucoma agents, anti-lipid agents, antinociceptive agents, anti-thrombotic agents, AT₁ receptor antagonists and dual-acting AT₁ receptor antagonist/neprilysin inhibitors and multifunctional angiotensin receptor blockers, bradykinin receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, chymase inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, dopamine agonists, endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, estrogens, estrogen receptor agonists and/or antagonists, monoamine reuptake inhibitors, muscle relaxants, natriuretic peptides and their analogs, natriuretic peptide clearance receptor antagonists, neprilysin inhibitors, nitric oxide donors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonists, opioid receptor agonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, prostaglandin analogs, prostaglandin receptor agonists, renin inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sodium channel blocker, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators and activators, tricyclic antidepressants, vasopressin receptor antagonists, and combinations thereof. Specific examples of these agents are detailed herein.

Accordingly, in yet another aspect of the invention, a pharmaceutical composition comprises the crystalline compound, a second active agent, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Third, fourth etc. active agents may also be included in the composition. In combination therapy, the amount of the crystalline compound that is administered, as well as the amount of secondary agents, may be less than the amount typically administered in monotherapy.

The crystalline compound may be physically mixed with the second active agent to form a composition containing both agents; or each agent may be present in separate and distinct compositions which are administered to the patient simultaneously or at separate times. For example, the crystalline compound can be combined with a second active agent using conventional procedures and equipment to form a combination of active agents comprising the crystalline compound and a second active agent. Additionally, the active agents may be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a pharmaceutical composition comprising the crystalline compound, a second active agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In this embodiment, the components of the composition are typically mixed or blended to create a physical mixture. The physical mixture is then administered in a therapeutically effective amount using any of the routes described herein.

Alternatively, the active agents may remain separate and distinct before administration to the patient. In this embodiment, the agents are not physically mixed together before administration but are administered simultaneously or at separate times as separate compositions. Such compositions can be packaged separately or may be packaged together in a kit. When administered at separate times, the secondary agent will typically be administered less than 24 hours after administration of the crystalline compound, ranging anywhere from concurrent with administration of the crystalline compound to about 24 hours post-dose. This is also referred to as sequential administration. Thus, the crystalline compound can be orally administered simultaneously or sequentially with another active agent using two tablets, with one tablet for each active agent, where sequential may mean being administered immediately after administration of the crystalline compound or at some predetermined time later (for example, one hour later or three hours later). It is also contemplated that the secondary agent may be administered more than 24 hours after administration of the crystalline compound. Alternatively, the combination may be administered by different routes of administration, that is, one orally and the other by inhalation.

In one embodiment, the kit comprises a first dosage form comprising the crystalline compound and at least one additional dosage form comprising one or more of the secondary agents set forth herein, in quantities sufficient to carry out the methods of the invention. The first dosage form and the second (or third, etc.) dosage form together comprise a therapeutically effective amount of active agents for the treatment or prevention of a disease or medical condition in a patient.

Secondary agent(s), when included, are present in a therapeutically effective amount such that they are typically administered in an amount that produces a therapeutically beneficial effect when co-administered with the crystalline compound. The secondary agent can be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, optically pure stereoisomer, and so forth. The secondary agent may also be in the form of a prodrug, for example, a compound having a carboxylic acid group that has been esterified. Thus, secondary agents listed herein are intended to include all such forms, and are commercially available or can be prepared using conventional procedures and reagents.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an adenosine receptor antagonist, representative examples of which include, but are not limited to, naxifylline, rolofylline, SLV-320, theophylline, and tonapofylline.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an α-adrenergic receptor antagonist, representative examples of which include, but are not limited to, doxazosin, prazosin, tamsulosin, and terazosin.

The crystalline compound may also be administered in combination with a β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonist (“β₁-blockers”). Representative β₁-blockers include, but are not limited to, acebutolol, alprenolol, amosulalol, arotinolol, atenolol, befunolol, betaxolol, bevantolol, bisoprolol, bopindolol, bucindolol, bucumolol, bufetolol, bufuralol, bunitrolol, bupranolol, bubridine, butofilolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, cetamolol, cloranolol, dilevalol, epanolol, esmolol, indenolol, labetolol, levobunolol, mepindolol, metipranolol, metoprolol such as metoprolol succinate and metoprolol tartrate, moprolol, nadolol, nadoxolol, nebivalol, nipradilol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, perbutolol, pindolol, practolol, pronethalol, propranolol, sotalol, sufinalol, talindol, tertatolol, tilisolol, timolol, toliprolol, xibenolol, and combinations thereof. In one particular embodiment, the β₁-antagonist is selected from atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, and combinations thereof. Typically, the β₁-blocker will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 2-900 mg per dose.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a β₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, representative examples of which include, but are not limited to, albuterol, bitolterol, fenoterol, formoterol, indacaterol, isoetharine, levalbuterol, metaproterenol, pirbuterol, salbutamol, salmefamol, salmeterol, terbutaline, vilanterol, and the like Typically, the β₂-adrenergic receptor agonist will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 0.05-500 μg per dose.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an advanced glycation end product (AGE) breaker, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, alagebrium (or ALT-711), and TRC4149.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an aldosterone antagonist, representative examples of which include, but are not limited to, eplerenone, spironolactone, and combinations thereof. Typically, the aldosterone antagonist will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 5-300 mg per day.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an aminopeptidase N or dipeptidyl peptidase III inhibitor, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, bestatin and PC18 (2-amino-4-methylsulfonyl butane thiol, methionine thiol).

The crystalline compound is can also be administered in combination with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. Representative ACE inhibitors include, but are not limited to, accupril, alacepril, benazepril, benazeprilat, captopril, ceranapril, cilazapril, delapril, enalapril, enalaprilat, fosinopril, fosinoprilat, imidapril, lisinopril, moexipril, monopril, moveltipril, pentopril, perindopril, quinapril, quinaprilat, ramipril, ramiprilat, saralasin acetate, spirapril, temocapril, trandolapril, zofenopril, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the ACE inhibitor is selected from: benazepril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril, and combinations thereof. Typically, the ACE inhibitor will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 1-150 mg per day.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a dual-acting agent, such as an angiotensin-converting enzyme/neprilysin (ACE/NEP) inhibitor, examples of which include, but are not limited to: AVE-0848 ((4S,7S,12bR)-7-[3-methyl-2(S)-sulfanylbutyramido]-6-oxo-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12b-octahydropyrido[2,1-a][2]-benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid); AVE-7688 (ilepatril) and its parent compound; BMS-182657 (2-[2-oxo-3(S)-[3-phenyl-2(S)-sulfanylpropionamido]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-1-yl]acetic acid); CGS-35601 (N-[1-[4-methyl-2(S)-sulfanylpentanamido]cyclopentylcarbonyl]-L-tryptophan); fasidotril; fasidotrilate; enalaprilat; ER-32935 ((3R,6S,9aR)-6-[3(S)-methyl-2(S)-sulfanylpentanamido]-5-oxoperhydrothiazolo[3,2-a]azepine-3-carboxylic acid); gempatrilat; MDL-101264 ((4S,7S,12bR)-7-[2(S)-(2-morpholinoacetylthio)-3-phenylpropionamido]-6-oxo-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12b-octahydropyrido[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid); MDL-101287 ([4S-[4α,7α(R*),12β]]-7-[2-(carboxymethyl)-3-phenylpropionamido]-6-oxo-1,2,3,4,6,7,8,12b-octahydropyrido[2,1-a][2]benzazepine-4-carboxylic acid); omapatrilat; RB-105 (N-[2(S)-(mercaptomethyl)-3(R)-phenylbutyl]-L-alanine); sampatrilat; SA-898 ((2R,4R)—N-[2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(3-mercaptopropionyl)thiazolidin-4-ylcarbonyl]-L-phenylalanine); Sch-50690 (N-[1(S)-carboxy-2-[N2-(methanesulfonyl)-L-lysylamino]ethyl]-L-valyl-L-tyrosine); and combinations thereof, may also be included. In one particular embodiment, the ACE/NEP inhibitor is selected from: AVE-7688, enalaprilat, fasidotril, fasidotrilate, omapatrilat, sampatrilat, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activator or stimulator.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an angiotensin-II vaccine, examples of which include, but are not limited to ATR12181 and CYT006-AngQb.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an anticoagulant, representative examples of which include, but are not limited to: coumarins such as warfarin; heparin; and direct thrombin inhibitors such as argatroban, bivalirudin, dabigatran, and lepirudin.

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an anti-diabetic agent. Representative anti-diabetic agents include injectable drugs as well as orally effective drugs, and combinations thereof. Examples of injectable drugs include, but are not limited to, insulin and insulin derivatives. Examples of orally effective drugs include, but are not limited to: biguanides such as metformin; glucagon antagonists; α-glucosidase inhibitors such as acarbose and miglitol; dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors (DPP-IV inhibitors) such as alogliptin, denagliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin; meglitinides such as repaglinide; oxadiazolidinediones; sulfonylureas such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, and tolazamide; thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone and rosiglitazone; and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with antidiarrheal treatments. Representative treatment options include, but are not limited to, oral rehydration solutions (ORS), loperamide, diphenoxylate, and bismuth subsalicylate.

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an anti-glaucoma agent. Representative anti-glaucoma agents include, but are not limited to: α-adrenergic agonists such as brimonidine; β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists; topical β₁-blockers such as betaxolol, levobunolol, and timolol; carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide, brinzolamide, or dorzolamide; cholinergic agonists such as cevimeline and DMXB-anabaseine; epinephrine compounds; miotics such as pilocarpine; and prostaglandin analogs.

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an anti-lipid agent. Representative anti-lipid agents include, but are not limited to: cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors (CETPs) such as anacetrapib, dalcetrapib, and torcetrapib; statins such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin; and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an anti-thrombotic agent. Representative anti-thrombotic agents include, but are not limited to: aspirin; anti-platelet agents such as clopidogrel, prasugrel, and ticlopidine; heparin, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an AT₁ receptor antagonist, also known as angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs). Representative ARBs include, but are not limited to, abitesartan, azilsartan (e.g., azilsartan medoxomil), benzyllosartan, candesartan, candesartan cilexetil, elisartan, embusartan, enoltasosartan, eprosartan, EXP3174, fonsartan, forasartan, glycyllosartan, irbesartan, isoteoline, losartan, medoximil, milfasartan, olmesartan (e.g., olmesartan medoxomil), opomisartan, pratosartan, ripisartan, saprisartan, saralasin, sarmesin, TAK-591, tasosartan, telmisartan, valsartan, zolasartan, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the ARB is selected from azilsartan medoxomil, candesartan cilexetil, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan medoxomil, saprisartan, tasosartan, telmisartan, valsartan, and combinations thereof. Exemplary salts and/or prodrugs include candesartan cilexetil, eprosartan mesylate, losartan potassium salt, and olmesartan medoxomil. Typically, the ARB will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 4-600 mg per dose, with exemplary daily dosages ranging from 20-320 mg per day.

The crystalline compound may also be administered in combination with a dual-acting agent, such as an AT₁ receptor antagonist/neprilysin inhibitor (ARB/NEP) inhibitor, examples of which include, but are not limited to, compounds described in U.S. Publication Nos. 2008/0269305 and 2009/0023228, both to Allegretti et al. filed on Apr. 23, 2008, such as the compound, 4′-{2-ethoxy-4-ethyl-5-[((S)-2-mercapto-4-methylpentanoylamino)methyl]imidazol-1-ylmethyl}-3′-fluorobiphenyl-2-carboxylic acid.

The crystalline compound may also be administered in combination with multifunctional angiotensin receptor blockers as described in Kurtz & Klein (2009) Hypertension Research 32:826-834.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a bradykinin receptor antagonist, for example, icatibant (HOE-140). It is expected that this combination therapy may present the advantage of preventing angioedema or other unwanted consequences of elevated bradykinin levels.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a calcium channel blocker. Representative calcium channel blockers include, but are not limited to, amlodipine, anipamil, aranipine, barnidipine, bencyclane, benidipine, bepridil, clentiazem, cilnidipine, cinnarizine, diltiazem, efonidipine, elgodipine, etafenone, felodipine, fendiline, flunarizine, gallopamil, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, lidoflazine, lomerizine, manidipine, mibefradil, nicardipine, nifedipine, niguldipine, niludipine, nilvadipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, nivaldipine, perhexyline, prenylamine, ryosidine, semotiadil, terodiline, tiapamil, verapamil, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the calcium channel blocker is selected from amlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, niguldipine, niludipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, ryosidine, verapamil, and combinations thereof. Typically, the calcium channel blocker will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 2-500 mg per dose.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a chymase inhibitor, such as TPC-806 and 2-(5-formylamino-6-oxo-2-phenyl-1,6-dihydropyrimidine-1-yl)-N-[{3,4-dioxo-1-phenyl-7-(2-pyridyloxy)}-2-heptyl]acetamide (NK3201).

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a diuretic. Representative diuretics include, but are not limited to: carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide and dichlorphenamide; loop diuretics, which include sulfonamide derivatives such as acetazolamide, ambuside, azosemide, bumetanide, butazolamide, chloraminophenamide, clofenamide, clopamide, clorexolone, disulfamide, ethoxzolamide, furosemide, mefruside, methazolamide, piretanide, torsemide, tripamide, and xipamide, as well as non-sulfonamide diuretics such as ethacrynic acid and other phenoxyacetic acid compounds such as tienilic acid, indacrinone and quincarbate; osmotic diuretics such as mannitol; potassium-sparing diuretics, which include aldosterone antagonists such as spironolactone, and Na⁺ channel inhibitors such as amiloride and triamterene; thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics such as althiazide, bendroflumethiazide, benzylhydrochlorothiazide, benzthiazide, buthiazide, chlorthalidone, chlorothiazide, cyclopenthiazide, cyclothiazide, epithiazide, ethiazide, fenquizone, flumethiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, indapamide, methylclothiazide, meticrane, metolazone, paraflutizide, polythiazide, quinethazone, teclothiazide, and trichloromethiazide; and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the diuretic is selected from amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, dichlorphenamide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, indapamide, methylclothiazide, metolazone, torsemide, triamterene, and combinations thereof. The diuretic will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 5-50 mg per day, more typically 6-25 mg per day, with common dosages being 6.25 mg, 12.5 mg or 25 mg per day.

The crystalline compound may also be administered in combination with an endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) inhibitor, examples of which include, but are not limited to, phosphoramidon, CGS 26303, and combinations thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an endothelin receptor antagonist. Representative endothelin receptor antagonists include, but are not limited to: selective endothelin receptor antagonists that affect endothelin A receptors, such as avosentan, ambrisentan, atrasentan, BQ-123, clazosentan, darusentan, sitaxentan, and zibotentan; and dual endothelin receptor antagonists that affect both endothelin A and B receptors, such as bosentan, macitentan, tezosentan).

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with one or more HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, which are also known as statins. Representative statins include, but are not limited to, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a monoamine reuptake inhibitor, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors such as atomoxetine, buproprion and the buproprion metabolite hydroxybuproprion, maprotiline, reboxetine, and viloxazine; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as citalopram and the citalopram metabolite desmethylcitalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram (e.g., escitalopram oxalate), fluoxetine and the fluoxetine desmethyl metabolite norfluoxetine, fluvoxamine (e.g., fluvoxamine maleate), paroxetine, sertraline and the sertraline metabolite demethylsertraline; dual serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as bicifadine, duloxetine, milnacipran, nefazodone, and venlafaxine; and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a muscle relaxant, examples of which include, but are not limited to: carisoprodol, chlorzoxazone, cyclobenzaprine, diflunisal, metaxalone, methocarbamol, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a natriuretic peptide or analog, examples of which include but are not limited to: carperitide, CD-NP (Nile Therapeutics), CU-NP, nesiritide, PL-3994 (Palatin Technologies, Inc.), ularitide, cenderitide, and compounds described in Ogawa et al (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279:28625-31. These compounds are also referred to as natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A) agonists. In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C) antagonist such as SC-46542, cANF (4-23), and AP-811 (Veale (2000) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 10:1949-52). For example, AP-811 has shown synergy when combined with the NEP inhibitor, thiorphan (Wegner (1995) Clin. Exper. Hypert. 17:861-876).

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with another neprilysin (NEP) inhibitor. Representative NEP inhibitors include, but are not limited to: AHU-377; candoxatril; candoxatrilat; dexecadotril ((+)-N-[2(R)-(acetylthiomethyl)-3-phenylpropionyl]glycine benzyl ester); CGS-24128 (3-[3-(biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(phosphonomethylamino)propionamido]propionic acid); CGS-24592 ((S)-3-[3-(biphenyl-4-yl)-2-(phosphonomethylamino)propionamido]propionic acid); CGS-25155 (N-[9(R)-(acetylthiomethyl)-10-oxo-1-azacyclodecan-2(S)-ylcarbonyl]-4(R)-hydroxy-L-proline benzyl ester); 3-(1-carbamoylcyclohexyl)propionic acid derivatives described in WO 2006/027680 to Hepworth et al. (Pfizer Inc.); JMV-390-1 (2(R)-benzyl-3-(N-hydroxycarbamoyl)propionyl-L-isoleucyl-L-leucine); ecadotril; phosphoramidon; retrothiorphan; RU-42827 (2-(mercaptomethyl)-N-(4-pyridinyl)benzenepropionamide); RU-44004 (N-(4-morpholinyl)-3-phenyl-2-(sulfanylmethyl)propionamide); SCH-32615 ((S)—N—[N-(1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl)-L-phenylalanyl]-β-alanine) and its prodrug SCH-34826 ((S)—N—[N-[1-[[(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methoxy]carbonyl]-2-phenylethyl]-L-phenylalanyl]-β-alanine); sialorphin; SCH-42495 (N-[2(S)-(acetylsulfanylmethyl)-3-(2-methylphenyl)propionyl]-L-methionine ethyl ester); spinorphin; SQ-28132 (N-[2-(mercaptomethyl)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropyl]leucine); SQ-28603 (N-[2-(mercaptomethyl)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropyl]-β-alanine); SQ-29072 (7-[[2-(mercaptomethyl)-1-oxo-3-phenylpropyl]amino]heptanoic acid); thiorphan and its prodrug racecadotril; UK-69578 (cis-4-[[[1-[2-carboxy-3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propyl]cyclopentyl]carbonyl]amino]cyclohexanecarboxylic acid); UK-447,841 (2-{1-[3-(4-chlorophenyl)propylcarbamoyl]-cyclopentylmethyl}-4-methoxybutyric acid); UK-505,749 ((R)-2-methyl-3-{1-[3-(2-methylbenzothiazol-6-yl)propylcarbamoyl]cyclopentyl}propionic acid); 5-biphenyl-4-yl-4-(3-carboxypropionylamino)-2-methylpentanoic acid and 5-biphenyl-4-yl-4-(3-carboxypropionylamino)-2-methylpentanoic acid ethyl ester (WO 2007/056546); daglutril [(3S,2′R)-3-{1-[2′-(ethoxycarbonyl)-4′-phenylbutyl]-cyclopentan-1-carbonylamino}-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2-oxo-1H-1-benzazepine-1-acetic acid] described in WO 2007/106708 to Khder et al. (Novartis AG); and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the NEP inhibitor is selected from AHU-377, candoxatril, candoxatrilat, CGS-24128, phosphoramidon, SCH-32615, SCH-34826, SQ-28603, thiorphan, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the NEP inhibitor is a compound such as daglutril or CGS-26303 ([N-[2-(biphenyl-4-yl)-1(S)-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)ethyl]amino]methylphosphonic acid), which have activity both as inhibitors of the endothelin converting enzyme (ECE) and of NEP. Other dual acting ECE/NEP compounds can also be used. The NEP inhibitor will be administered in an amount sufficient to provide from about 20-800 mg per day, with typical daily dosages ranging from 50-700 mg per day, more commonly 100-600 or 100-300 mg per day.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a nitric oxide donor, examples of which include, but are not limited to nicorandil; organic nitrates such as pentaerythritol tetranitrate; and sydnonimines such as linsidomine and molsidomine.

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID). Representative NSAIDs include, but are not limited to: acemetacin, acetyl salicylic acid, alclofenac, alminoprofen, amfenac, amiprilose, aloxiprin, anirolac, apazone, azapropazone, benorilate, benoxaprofen, bezpiperylon, broperamole, bucloxic acid, carprofen, clidanac, diclofenac, diflunisal, diftalone, enolicam, etodolac, etoricoxib, fenbufen, fenclofenac, fenclozic acid, fenoprofen, fentiazac, feprazone, flufenamic acid, flufenisal, fluprofen, flurbiprofen, furofenac, ibufenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, indoprofen, isoxepac, isoxicam, ketoprofen, ketorolac, lofemizole, lornoxicam, meclofenamate, meclofenamic acid, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, mesalamine, miroprofen, mofebutazone, nabumetone, naproxen, niflumic acid, oxaprozin, oxpinac, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, pirprofen, pranoprofen, salsalate, sudoxicam, sulfasalazine, sulindac, suprofen, tenoxicam, tiopinac, tiaprofenic acid, tioxaprofen, tolfenamic acid, tolmetin, triflumidate, zidometacin, zomepirac, and combinations thereof. In a particular embodiment, the NSAID is selected from etodolac, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, meloxicam, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, including amantadine, dextromethorphan, dextropropoxyphene, ketamine, ketobemidone, memantine, methadone, and so forth.

In still another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with an opioid receptor agonist (also referred to as opioid analgesics). Representative opioid receptor agonists include, but are not limited to: buprenorphine, butorphanol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levallorphan, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, nalbuphine, nalmefene, nalorphine, naloxone, naltrexone, nalorphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene, tramadol, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the opioid receptor agonist is selected from codeine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, tramadol, and combinations thereof.

In a particular embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, particularly a PDE-V inhibitor. Representative PDE-V inhibitors include, but are not limited to, avanafil, lodenafil, mirodenafil, sildenafil (Revatio®), tadalafil (Adcirca®), vardenafil (Levitra®), and udenafil.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a prostaglandin analog (also referred to as prostanoids or prostacyclin analogs). Representative prostaglandin analogs include, but are not limited to, beraprost sodium, bimatoprost, epoprostenol, iloprost, latanoprost, tafluprost, travoprost, and treprostinil, with bimatoprost, latanoprost, and tafluprost being of particular interest.

In yet another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a prostaglandin receptor agonist, examples of which include, but are not limited to, bimatoprost, latanoprost, travoprost, and so forth.

The crystalline compound may also be administered in combination with a renin inhibitor, examples of which include, but are not limited to, aliskiren, enalkiren, remikiren, and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Representative SSRIs include, but are not limited to: citalopram and the citalopram metabolite desmethylcitalopram, dapoxetine, escitalopram (e.g., escitalopram oxalate), fluoxetine and the fluoxetine desmethyl metabolite norfluoxetine, fluvoxamine (e.g., fluvoxamine maleate), paroxetine, sertraline and the sertraline metabolite demethylsertraline, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a 5-HT_(1D) serotonin receptor agonist, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, triptans such as almotriptan, avitriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a sodium channel blocker, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, lamotrigine, lidocaine, mexiletine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator or activator, examples of which include, but are not limited to ataciguat, riociguat, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, amitriptyline, amitriptylinoxide, butriptyline, clomipramine, demexiptiline, desipramine, dibenzepin, dimetacrine, dosulepin, doxepin, imipramine, imipraminoxide, lofepramine, melitracen, metapramine, nitroxazepine, nortriptyline, noxiptiline, pipofezine, propizepine, protriptyline, quinupramine, and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the crystalline compound is administered in combination with a vasopressin receptor antagonist, examples of which include, by way of illustration and not limitation, conivaptan and tolvaptan.

Combined secondary therapeutic agents may also be helpful in further combination therapy with the crystalline compound of the invention. For example, the crystalline compound can be combined with a diuretic and an ARB, or a calcium channel blocker and an ARB, or a diuretic and an ACE inhibitor, or a calcium channel blocker and a statin. Specific examples include, a combination of the ACE inhibitor enalapril (in the maleate salt form) and the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide, which is sold under the mark Vaseretic®, or a combination of the calcium channel blocker amlodipine (in the besylate salt form) and the ARB olmesartan (in the medoxomil prodrug form), or a combination of a calcium channel blocker and a statin, all may also be used with the crystalline compound. Other therapeutic agents such as α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists and vasopressin receptor antagonists may also be helpful in combination therapy. Exemplary α₂-adrenergic receptor agonists include clonidine, dexmedetomidine, and guanfacine.

The following formulations illustrate representative pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline compound of the invention.

Exemplary Hard Gelatin Capsules for Oral Administration

The crystalline compound (50 g), 440 g spray-dried lactose and 10 g magnesium stearate are thoroughly blended. The resulting composition is then loaded into hard gelatin capsules (500 mg of composition per capsule). Alternately, the crystalline compound (20 mg) is thoroughly blended with starch (89 mg), microcrystalline cellulose (89 mg) and magnesium stearate (2 mg). The mixture is then passed through a No. 45 mesh U.S. sieve and loaded into a hard gelatin capsule (200 mg of composition per capsule).

Alternately, the crystalline compound (30 g), a secondary agent (20 g), 440 g spray-dried lactose and 10 g magnesium stearate are thoroughly blended, and processed as described above.

Exemplary Gelatin Capsule Formulation for Oral Administration

The crystalline compound (100 mg) is thoroughly blended with polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (50 mg) and starch powder (250 mg). The mixture is then loaded into a gelatin capsule (400 mg of composition per capsule). Alternately, the crystalline compound (70 mg) and a secondary agent (30 mg) are thoroughly blended with polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (50 mg) and starch powder (250 mg), and the resulting mixture loaded into a gelatin capsule (400 mg of composition per capsule).

Alternately, the crystalline compound (40 mg) is thoroughly blended with microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel PH 103; 259.2 mg) and magnesium stearate (0.8 mg). The mixture is then loaded into a gelatin capsule (Size #1, White, Opaque) (300 mg of composition per capsule).

Exemplary Tablet Formulation for Oral Administration

The crystalline compound (10 mg), starch (45 mg) and microcrystalline cellulose (35 mg) are passed through a No. 20 mesh U.S. sieve and mixed thoroughly. The granules so produced are dried at 50-60° C. and passed through a No. 16 mesh U.S. sieve. A solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (4 mg as a 10% solution in sterile water) is mixed with sodium carboxymethyl starch (4.5 mg), magnesium stearate (0.5 mg), and talc (1 mg), and this mixture is then passed through a No. 16 mesh U.S. sieve. The sodium carboxymethyl starch, magnesium stearate and talc are then added to the granules. After mixing, the mixture is compressed on a tablet machine to afford a tablet weighing 100 mg.

Alternately, the crystalline compound (250 mg) is thoroughly blended with microcrystalline cellulose (400 mg), silicon dioxide fumed (10 mg), and stearic acid (5 mg). The mixture is then compressed to form tablets (665 mg of composition per tablet).

Alternately, the crystalline compound (400 mg) is thoroughly blended with cornstarch (50 mg), croscarmellose sodium (25 mg), lactose (120 mg), and magnesium stearate (5 mg). The mixture is then compressed to form a single-scored tablet (600 mg of composition per tablet).

Alternately, the crystalline compound (100 mg) is thoroughly blended with cornstarch (100 mg) with an aqueous solution of gelatin (20 mg). The mixture is dried and ground to a fine powder. Microcrystalline cellulose (50 mg) and magnesium stearate (5 mg) are then admixed with the gelatin formulation, granulated and the resulting mixture compressed to form tablets (100 mg of the crystalline compound per tablet).

Exemplary Suspension Formulation for Oral Administration

The following ingredients are mixed to form a suspension containing 100 mg of the crystalline compound per 10 mL of suspension:

Ingredients Amount Crystalline compound  1.0 g Fumaric acid  0.5 g Sodium chloride  2.0 g Methyl paraben  0.15 g Propyl paraben  0.05 g Granulated sugar  25.5 g Sorbitol (70% solution) 12.85 g Veegum ® K (magnesium aluminum silicate)  1.0 g Flavoring 0.035 mL Colorings  0.5 mg Distilled water q.s. to 100 mL

Exemplary Liquid Formulation for Oral Administration

A suitable liquid formulation is one with a carboxylic acid-based buffer such as citrate, lactate and maleate buffer solutions. For example, the crystalline compound (which may be pre-mixed with DMSO) is blended with a 100 mM ammonium citrate buffer and the pH adjusted to pH 5, or is blended with a 100 mM citric acid solution and the pH adjusted to pH 2. Such solutions may also include a solubilizing excipient such as a cyclodextrin, for example the solution may include 10 wt % hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin.

Other suitable formulations include a 5% NaHCO₃ solution, with or without cyclodextrin.

Exemplary Injectable Formulation for Administration by Injection

The crystalline compound (0.2 g) is blended with 0.4 M sodium acetate buffer solution (2.0 mL). The pH of the resulting solution is adjusted to pH 4 using 0.5 N aqueous hydrochloric acid or 0.5 N aqueous sodium hydroxide, as necessary, and then sufficient water for injection is added to provide a total volume of 20 mL. The mixture is then filtered through a sterile filter (0.22 micron) to provide a sterile solution suitable for administration by injection.

Exemplary Compositions for Administration by Inhalation

The crystalline compound (0.2 mg) is micronized and then blended with lactose (25 mg). This blended mixture is then loaded into a gelatin inhalation cartridge. The contents of the cartridge are administered using a dry powder inhaler, for example.

Alternately, the micronized crystalline compound (10 g) is dispersed in a solution prepared by dissolving lecithin (0.2 g) in demineralized water (200 mL). The resulting suspension is spray dried and then micronized to form a micronized composition comprising particles having a mean diameter less than about 1.5 μm. The micronized composition is then loaded into metered-dose inhaler cartridges containing pressurized 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in an amount sufficient to provide about 10 μg to about 500 μg of the crystalline compound per dose when administered by the inhaler.

Alternately, the crystalline compound (25 mg) is dissolved in citrate buffered (pH 5) isotonic saline (125 mL). The mixture is stirred and sonicated until the compound is dissolved. The pH of the solution is checked and adjusted, if necessary, to pH 5 by slowly adding aqueous 1 N NaOH. The solution is administered using a nebulizer device that provides about 10 μg to about 500 μg of the compound per dose.

EXAMPLES

The following Preparations and Examples are provided to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. These specific embodiments, however, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way unless specifically indicated.

The following abbreviations have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated and any other abbreviations used herein and not defined have their standard, generally accepted meaning:

AcOH acetic acid CPME cyclopentyl methyl ether DCM dichloromethane or methylene chloride DIPEA N,N-diisopropylethylamine DMAP 4-dimethylaminopyridine DMF N,N-dimethylformamide EDCI N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide EtOAc ethyl acetate HATU N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)uronium hexafluorophosphate HCTU (2-(6-chloro-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3- tetramethylaminium hexafluorophosphate) HOBt 1-hydroxybenzotriazole MeCN acetonitrile MeOH methanol MeTHF 2-methyltetrahydrofuran TFA trifluoroacetic acid THF tetrahydrofuran

Unless noted otherwise, all materials, such as reagents, starting materials and solvents, were purchased from commercial suppliers (such as Sigma-Aldrich, Fluka Riedel-de Haën, and the like) and were used without further purification.

Reactions were run under nitrogen atmosphere, unless noted otherwise. The progress of reactions were monitored by thin layer chromatography (TLC), analytical high performance liquid chromatography (anal. HPLC), and mass spectrometry, the details of which are given in specific examples. Solvents used in analytical HPLC were as follows: solvent A was 98% H₂O/2% MeCN/1.0 mL/L TFA; solvent B was 90% MeCN/10% H₂O/1.0 mL/L TFA.

Reactions were worked up as described specifically in each preparation for example; commonly reaction mixtures were purified by extraction and other purification methods such as temperature-, and solvent-dependent crystallization, and precipitation. In addition, reaction mixtures were routinely purified by preparative HPLC, typically using Microsorb C18 and Microsorb BDS column packings and conventional eluents. Progress of reactions was typically measured by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). Characterization of isomers were done by Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOE). Characterization of reaction products was routinely carried out by mass and ¹H-NMR spectrometry. For NMR measurement, samples were dissolved in deuterated solvent (CD₃OD, CDCl₃, or DMSO-d₆), and ¹H-NMR spectra were acquired with a Varian Gemini 2000 instrument (400 MHz) under standard observation conditions. Mass spectrometric identification of compounds was typically conducted using an electrospray ionization method (ESMS) with an Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.) model API 150 EX instrument or an Agilent (Palo Alto, Calif.) model 1200 LC/MSD instrument.

Preparation 1 (2S,4R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(3H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl Ester

(R)-3-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-t-butoxycarbonylamino-propionic acid (5.0 g, 15 mmol) and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (2.3 g, 16.1 mmol) were combined in DMAP (3.2 g, 26.4 mmol). Additional DMAP (2.0 g, 16.1 mmol) and DCM (50 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred and cooled to −5° C. (nitrogen purge) for 30 minutes. EDCI (HCl; (3.1 g, 16.1 mmol) was added in portions, while maintaining the internal temperature below 0° C. with stirring. The mixture was then cooled to −5° C., stirred at that temperature for 3 hours, then left at −20° C. overnight. The mixture was then washed with 0.4 M aqueous KHSO₄ (80 mL) and saturated aqueous NaCl (20 mL), then dried over MgSO₄ overnight. The solids were filtered off and the filtrate was then evaporated to dryness to yield crude Compound 1 (3.2 g).

AcOH (8.6 mL) was added to a solution of crude Compound 1 (6.4 g, 14 mmol, 1.0 eq.) in anhydrous MeCN (90 mL) was added AcOH (8.6 mL) at −5° C. under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at −5° C. for 30 minutes, then sodium borohydride (1.3 g, 34.5 mmol, 2.5 eq.) was added in small portions over 2 hours. After stirring for another 1 hour at −5° C., saturated aqueous NaCl and 1.7 M of NaCl in water (30 mL) was added. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous NaCl (2×30 mL) and water (2×30 mL), dried under MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated, The resulting crude product was further purified by chromatography (5:1 heptane:EtOAc) to yield Compound 2 (1.1 g, 98.4% purity) as a light yellow solid.

Compound 2 (5.0 g, 11 mmol, 1.0 eq.) and K₂CO₃ (1.8 g, 13.2 mmol, 1.2 eq.) were dissolved in DMF (33.9 mL) and cooled to 0° C. with stirring under nitrogen. Methyl iodide (892 μL, 1.3 eq.) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature (23° C.) and held overnight. Saturated aqueous NaCl (35 mL) and EtOAc (35 mL) were added, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 2 minutes. The layers were separated and the organic layer was evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc (20 mL). The solid was filtered off and dried under vacuum. The filtrate was concentrated and triturated again with EtOAc to yield Compound 3 (3.9 g).

Distilled water (140 mL) was purged 30 minutes under nitrogen, then cannulated into a vessel containing 0.1 M of samarium diiodide in THF (800 mL), exercising caution not to allow any air to come into contact with solution. While maintaining an atmosphere of nitrogen, a degassed solution of Compound 3 (3.7 g, 8.0 mmol, 1.0 eq.) and THF (100 mL) was added via canula. The resulting mixture was stirred for 15 minutes, then exposed to air. Saturated aqueous NaCl (12 mL), 10% citric acid (6 mL), and EtOAc (30 mL) were added. The mixture was stirred for 5 minutes, then both layers were extracted. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under vacuum. The crude product was purified by chromatography (330 g gold column, 50% EtOAc with 0.5% AcOH/ether gradient) to yield Compound 4 (1.4 g). Compound 1d was then dissolved in MeCN (10 mL), followed by the addition of 4N HCl in dioxane (10 mL). The solvent was evaporated and the product azeotroped with toluene (2×) to yield Compound 5 (1.0 g).

1,2,3-Triazole-4-carboxylic acid (130 mg, 1.2 mmol, 1.2 eq.) and HATU (400 mg, 1.1 mmol, 1.1 eq.) were dissolved in DIPEA (167 μL) and the resulting mixture was stirred for 5 minutes at room temperature in DMF (0.2 mL). DIPEA (3 eq.) and Compound 5 (300 mg, 957 μmol, 1.0 eq.) dissolved in DMF (0.2 mL) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 15 minutes. The reaction was quenched with AcOH and the product was purified by preparative HPLC then lyophilized to yield Compound 6 as a TFA salt (120 mg, 95% purity). MS m/z [M+H]⁺ calc'd for C₂₂H₂₄N₄O₄, 409.18. found 409.4.

Compound 6 (100 mg, 245 μmol, 1.0 eq.), EDCI (52 μL, 294 μmol, 1.2 eq.) and HOBt (39.7 mg, 294 μmol, 1.2 eq.) were dissolved in DCM (5 mL). After stirring for 10 minutes, 4-hydroxymethyl-5-methyl-[1,3]dioxol-2-one (127 mg, 979 μmol, 4.0 eq.) was added. The mixture was stirred for 1 hour and 4-methylmorpholine (40.4 μL, 1.5 eq.) was added. After 1 hour, the crude material was dissolved in AcOH and purified by preparative HPLC to yield the title compound as a TFA salt (20 mg). MS m/z [M+H]⁺ calc'd for C₂₇H₂₈N₄O₇, 521.20. found 521.4.

Note that this compound can exist in a tautomer form, for example, as (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester.

Example 1 Crystalline (2S,4R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic Acid 5-Methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]-dioxol-4-ylmethyl Ester

(2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester (50 mg) was dissolved in a minimal amount of EtOAc in a small vial. This vial was placed in a larger vial containing hexanes (vapor diffusion). The larger vial was then capped and allowed to sit overnight, yielding oily glassy droplets. Sonication converted the droplets to a gummy solid. The gummy solid was allowed to sit at room temperature (closed) for three days, yielding white crunchy solids the formed on the walls. Sonication yielded fine birefringent needle crystals (used as seed crystals in Example 2). The product was filtered and analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis, as described in the examples below, and determined to be crystalline.

Example 2 Crystalline (2S,4R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic Acid 5-Methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]-dioxol-4-ylmethyl Ester

(2S,4R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester (18.0 g, 34.6 mmol) was dissolved in MeOH (110 mL, 2700 mmol). Water (100 mL) was slowly added until the solution became cloudy (70 mL). Seed crystals were added and the mixture was stirred for two hours, yielding a gradually thickening free-flowing slurry. The remaining water was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. The resulting solids were filtered and dried (16.2 g). The product was analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis, as described in the examples below, and determined to be the title crystalline material.

Preparation 2 (3S,5R)-5-Biphenyl-4-ylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-one

[(R)-2-Biphenyl-4-yl-1-(2,2,5-trimethyl-4,6-dioxo-[1,3]dioxan-5-ylmethyl)-ethyl]-carbamic acid t-butyl ester (400.0 g, 855.5 mmol) was combined with CPME (2 L) to form a slurry. The slurry was cooled at 0° C. and 3.0 M HCl in CPME (2.0 L) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours, yielding a free flowing slurry. Filtration and drying yielded Compound 1 as a 93:7 mixture of diastereoisomers (206 g total). Re-slurrying in MeTHF (1 L) at room temperature followed by the addition of CPME (1 L; slurry overnight at room temperature) yielded Compound 2 (170 g; 98% de purity).

Compound 2 (25.0 g, 80.8 mmol) was combined with THF (500 mL) and 4-methylmorpholine (25 mL, 230 mmol). The resulting mixture was cooled at 0° C. (jacket temp set at −5° C.) and isobutyl chloroformate (21.0 mL, 162 mmol) was added dropwise via addition funnel, while maintaining the internal temperature below 5° C.). The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes. Sodium tetrahydroborate (12.2 g, 323 mmol) dissolved in water (40 mL) was added dropwise and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 20 minutes (>98% conversion). The reaction was quenched with 1M aqueous HCl (300 mL) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. Most of solvent was distilled off, leaving a white slurry. The slurry was stirred for 60 minutes and then filtered (small particles, slow filtration) to yield the title compound as a white solid (23 g; >98% purity).

Preparation 3 (2S,4R)-4-Amino-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-pentanoic Acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]-dioxol-4-ylmethyl Ester

(3S,5R)-5-Biphenyl-4-ylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-pyrrolidin-2-one (300 g, 1.0 mol) and DCM (3.8 L) were combined and the resulting mixture was cooled at 0° C. Dihydropyran (185 mL, 2.0 mol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (52.5 g, 305 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Aqueous s NaHCO₃ (10:90, NaHCO₃:water, 3 L) was added and the phases were separated. The organic layer was dried with Na₂SO₄ followed by solvent removal to approximately 500 mL. Into the crude product was added diisopropyl ether (2 L) and seed crystals. The resulting slurry was stirred overnight at room temperature. Filtration and drying yielded crystalline Compound 1 (320 g; >98% purity).

Compound 1 (320.0 g, 843.2 mmol) was dissolved in THF (2.5 L) to yield a clear solution, which was purged with nitrogen. The solution was cooled at 0° C. and 1.0 M sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in THF (920 mL, 920 mmol) was added dropwise over 30 minutes. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 minutes then di-t-butyldicarbonate (202 g, 926 mmol) dissolved in THF (500 mL) was added dropwise over 1 hour, while maintaining the internal temperature below 5° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature (>99% conversion to Compound 2). The mixture was cooled to <5° C. followed by the addition of 1.0 M aqueous LiOH (2.5 L, 2.5 mol). The cooling bath was removed and the mixture was stirred overnight at 27° C. (˜4% starting material remaining). The mixture was heated at 35° C. for 4 hours (>98% conversion), then cooled to 15° C. The mixture was diluted with EtOAc (3 L) and saturated aqueous NH₄Cl (0.37:0.63, NH₄Cl:water, 3 L). The phases were separated, and the organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous NH₄Cl (3 L) and saturated aqueous NaCl (3 L). The organic layer dried with Na₂SO₄ (1 kg), followed by solvent removal to yield crude Compound 3 (463 g) as a glassy sticky solid.

Crude Compound 3 (79.4 g) was dissolved in DMF (640 mL). K₂CO₃ (23.8 g, 172 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes. The mixture was cooled at 0° C. followed by addition of 4-chloromethyl-5-methyl-1,3-dioxol-2-one (20.6 mL, 188 mmol). The mixture was maintained at 0° C. and stirred over 3 hours (˜55% starting material and ˜38% product). The mixture was then stirred at room temperature (20.2° C.) overnight (˜16 hours; starting material was non-detectable). EtOAc (1.5 L) was added. The organic layer was washed with 3 M aqueous NH₄Cl (2×1.5 L) and saturated aqueous NaCl (1.5 L), dried with Na₂SO₄ (40 g), followed by solvent removal to yield crude Compound 4 as a thick oil. The crude Compound 4 was dissolved in DCM (500 ml) followed by the addition of 3.0 M aqueous HCl in CPME (798 mL, 2.4 mol). Seed crystals were added and the resulting mixture was stirred overnight to yield a free flowing slurry. The volume was reduced by half and the resulting slurry was filtered, flasked, and the filter cake was washed with diisopropyl ether to yield the title compound as a off-white solid HCl salt (69.1 g; 96.2% purity).

Example 3 Crystalline (2S,4R)-5-Biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic Acid 5-Methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]-dioxol-4-ylmethyl Ester

(2S,4R)-4-Amino-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester (350 g, 757.7 mmol) and DCM (4 L) were combined and the resulting mixture was cooled at 0° C. Dihydropyran (173 mL, 1.9 mol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (19.6 g, 113.6 mmol) were added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 18 hours (>95% conversion). Diisopropyl ether (2 L) was added and the solution was concentrated by rotary evaporation. The resulting slurry was stirred at 4° C. for 4 hours. Filtration and drying yielded Compound 1 (312 g; >98% purity).

1-Trityl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid (2823 g, 796 mmol) was dissolved in THF (6 L). DIPEA (330 mL, 1.9 mol) was added and the resulting mixture was cooled to 0° C. HCTU (380 g, 918 mmol) was added in portions and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 minutes. Compound 1 (312 g, 612 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes (complete conversion). The reaction was quenched with water (5 L) followed by the addition of EtOAc (5 L). The phases were separated, and the organic layer was washed with saturated aqueous NaCl (5 L), dried with Na₂SO₄, and concentrated by rotary evaporation. The crude product was re-slurried in 5 volumes of MeOH to yield Compound 2 (400 g; >98% purity).

Compound 2 (40.0 g, 47.2 mmol) was dissolved in 1.25 M HCl in MeOH (200 mL) and stirred to aid dissolution (>95% deprotection after 2 hours at room temperature). Water (200 mL) was slowly added until the solution became cloudy (100 mL). Seed crystals were added and the solution was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes to yield a free-flowing slurry. The remaining water was added dropwise and stirred at room temperature overnight. Filtration and drying yielded the title compound as intermediate grade material (30 g). This material was suspended in EtOAc (150 mL) and stirred for 30 minutes. Hexanes (150 mL) was added slowly via addition funnel and the resulting free-flowing slurry was stirred at room temperature overnight. Filtration and drying yielded the title crystalline material (15.3 g; 99.1% purity).

Example 4 Powder X-Ray Diffraction

Powder X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystalline compound was performed using the Thermo ARL X'Tra X-ray diffractometer. The X-ray source was Cu—Kα radiation (λ=1.54051 Å) with output voltage of 45 kV and current of 40 mA. The instrument was operated in Bragg-Brentano geometry with incident, divergence, and scattering slits set to maximize the intensity at the sample. For measurement, a small amount of powder (5-25 mg) was gently pressed onto the sample holder to form a smooth surface and subjected to X-ray exposure. The sample was scanned in 2θ-2θ mode from 2° to 40° in 2θ with a step size of 0.03° and a scan speed of 2.0° per minute. The data acquisition was controlled by Thermo ARL measurement software (Version 1.2.0.0) and analyzed by Jade software (Version 7.5.1). The instrument was calibrated with a quartz standard within ±0.02° 2θ angle.

It should be kept in mind that the Bragg-Brentano geometry used in the data collection is prone to preferred orientation. Under these conditions it is possible that the relative intensities of the diffraction peaks may not represent the true relative intensities that would be obtained from an idealized distribution of spherical particles or from a diffraction pattern simulated from a single crystal data. It is also possible that some peaks are not seen in some diffraction patterns due to the extensive preferred orientation.

Thermal Analysis

The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiment was performed using a TA

Instruments Model Q-100 module with a Thermal Analyst controller. Data were collected and analyzed using TA Instruments Universal Analysis software. A sample of the crystalline compound was accurately weighed into a covered aluminum pan. After a 5 minute isothermal equilibration period at 20° C., the sample was heated using a linear heating ramp of 10° C./min to 220° C.

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements were performed using a TA Instruments Model Q-50 module equipped with high resolution capability. Data were collected using TA Instruments Thermal Analyst controller and analyzed using TA Instruments Universal Analysis software. A weighed sample was placed onto a platinum pan and scanned with a heating rate of 10° C. from ambient temperature to 220° C. The balance and furnace chambers were purged with nitrogen flow during use.

Dynamic Moisture Sorption Assessment

Dynamic moisture sorption (DMS) measurements were performed using a VTI atmospheric microbalance, SGA-100 system (VTI Corp., Hialeah, Fla. 33016). A weighed sample was used and the relative humidity (RH) was set at the ambient value at the start of the analysis. The sample was subjected to an initial drying step (from 45% RH to 5% RH) followed by two cycles of adsorption (5% RH to 90% RH) and desorption (90% RH to 5% RH) experiments. The DMS analysis used a scan rate of 5% RH/step over the full humidity range of 5% (RH) to 90% RH. The DMS run was performed isothermally at 25° C.

While the present invention has been described with reference to specific aspects or embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skilled in the art that various changes can be made or equivalents can be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, to the extent permitted by applicable patent statutes and regulations, all publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each document had been individually incorporated by reference herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Crystalline (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester, characterized by a powder x-ray diffraction pattern comprising diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 8.62±0.20, 9.50±0.20, 12.14±0.20, 15.18±0.20, 15.72±0.20, 19.90±0.20, 20.40±0.20, 23.42±0.20, and 25.70±0.20.
 2. The crystalline compound of claim 1, which is further characterized by having one or more additional diffraction peaks at 2θ values selected from 8.20±0.20, 11.14±0.20, 11.80±0.20, 14.02±0.20, 17.44±0.20, 18.42±0.20, 19.20±0.20, 21.04±0.20, 21.78±0.20, 22.24±0.20, 23.90±0.20, 24.50±0.20, 25.98±0.20, and 26.98±0.20.
 3. The crystalline compound of claim 1, which is characterized by a powder x-ray diffraction pattern in which the peak positions are substantially in accordance with the peak positions of the pattern shown in FIG.
 1. 4. The crystalline compound of claim 1, which is characterized by a differential scanning calorimetry thermogram which has a melting point of about 155.3° C.
 5. The crystalline compound of claim 1, which is characterized by a differential scanning calorimetry thermogram substantially in accordance with that shown in FIG.
 2. 6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the crystalline compound of claim
 1. 7. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 6, further comprising a therapeutic agent selected from adenosine receptor antagonists, α-adrenergic receptor antagonists, β₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists, β₂-adrenergic receptor agonists, dual-acting β-adrenergic receptor antagonist/α₁-receptor antagonists, advanced glycation end product breakers, aldosterone antagonists, aldosterone synthase inhibitors, aminopeptidase N inhibitors, androgens, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and dual-acting angiotensin-converting enzyme/neprilysin inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activators and stimulators, angiotensin-II vaccines, anticoagulants, anti-diabetic agents, antidiarrheal agents, anti-glaucoma agents, anti-lipid agents, antinociceptive agents, anti-thrombotic agents, AT₁ receptor antagonists and dual-acting AT₁ receptor antagonist/neprilysin inhibitors and multifunctional angiotensin receptor blockers, bradykinin receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, chymase inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, dopamine agonists, endothelin converting enzyme inhibitors, endothelin receptor antagonists, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, estrogens, estrogen receptor agonists and/or antagonists, monoamine reuptake inhibitors, muscle relaxants, natriuretic peptides and their analogs, natriuretic peptide clearance receptor antagonists, neprilysin inhibitors, nitric oxide donors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonists, opioid receptor agonists, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, prostaglandin analogs, prostaglandin receptor agonists, renin inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sodium channel blocker, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators and activators, tricyclic antidepressants, vasopressin receptor antagonists, and combinations thereof.
 8. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 7, wherein the therapeutic agent is an AT₁ receptor antagonist.
 9. A process for preparing the crystalline compound of claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) treating (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester with an inert diluent; (b) optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution; and (c) allowing solids to form and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound.
 10. The process of claim 9, where the inert diluent is a solvent system selected from ethyl acetate/hexanes and lower alcohol/water.
 11. A process for preparing the crystalline compound of claim 1, comprising the steps of: (a) deprotecting (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-methyl-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxymethyl)-4-[(1-trityl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester in the presence of an inert diluent; (b) optionally stirring or sonicating to complete dissolution; and (c) allowing solids to form and isolating the solids to yield the crystalline compound.
 12. The process of claim 11, where the inert diluent is a solvent system selected from ethyl acetate/hexanes and lower alcohol/water.
 13. A process for purifying (2S,4R)-5-biphenyl-4-yl-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-4-[(1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carbonyl)-amino]-pentanoic acid 5-methyl-2-oxo-[1,3]dioxol-4-ylmethyl ester comprising forming the crystalline compound of claim
 1. 14. A method for treating hypertension, heart failure, or renal disease, comprising administering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of the crystalline compound of claim
 1. 